HiPP Dutch Stage 3 Formula
HiPP Dutch Stage 3 Formula is an easy-digesting cow milk formula made to nourish toddlers 1+ years old. Aside from meeting HiPP’s own extremely strict standards and those for EU organic certification, this formula also meets Dutch-specific standards.
Keeping up with your toddler’s nutritional needs doesn’t have to be complicated. HiPP stage 3 is a cow milk formula that provides a complete nutritional profile for children after infancy.
Formula for babies 12 months and older fills a nutritional gap, despite being less common in the United States than in other developed countries. Stage 3 formula can help toddlers meet their nutrition requirements as they explore solid food with greater confidence. Whether your toddler needs nutritional support to complement breastfeeding or if they just need a little extra to support their growth, HiPP stage 3 satisfies this need.
HiPP Stage 3 finds an even broader application among families who want more than a conventional cow milk formula. Identified with the “Bio Combiotik” label on the package, HiPP’s BioHereditum® Lactobacillus Fermentum CECT 5716 is a proprietary strain of bacteria isolated from human breast milk. It has been shown in multiple studies to be safe and well-tolerated, and may even help reduce the rate of gastrointestinal infections in infants.
The nutritional needs of most babies 12 months or older can be met with a balanced, developmentally-appropriate solid-food diet and pasteurized milk. Most organizations agree that switching from formula to pasteurized cow or goat milk at around 1 year of age is appropriate, but your baby may benefit from the fortified nutritional profile of a formula specifically designed for this age group.
Pros and Cons of HiPP Dutch Stage 3 Formula
Pros of HiPP Dutch Stage 3 Formula
- Added probiotics derived from human breast milk
- Meets or exceeds all European Union, and U.S., standards for organic certification
- Meets the nutrition needs of children over 1 year old
Cons of HiPP Dutch Stage 3 Formula
- Formula may not be necessary for children older than 12 months
- Not appropriate for children with lactose intolerance
- Not suitable for children with an allergy to cow’s milk or fish
Ingredients of HiPP Dutch Stage 3 Formula
HiPP Dutch Stage 3 is made up of mostly organic ingredients and complements the nutrition needs of children 1 year and up. Ingredients in HiPP Dutch Stage 3 include:
Organic Skim Milk, Organic Lactose, Organic Vegetable Oils [Organic Palm Oil, Organic Rapeseed Oil, Organic Sunflower Oil], Organic Lactose, Fish oil, Vitamin C, Potassium Citrate, Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Salts Of Orthophosphoric Acid, Calcium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Magnesium Carbonate, L-Tryptophan, Iron Sulfate, Lactic Acid, Vitamin E, Lactic Acid Culture [Hereditum® Lactobacillus Fermentum CECT 5716], Zinc Oxide, Niacin (Vit B3), Pantothenic acid (Vit B5), Copper Sulfate, Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B6, Potassium Iodate, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12, Sodium Selenate, Manganese Sulfate, Biotin, Vitamin D, Vitamin K.
The E.U. – U.S. organic equivalency agreement means that although the standards by which organic certification are slightly different between the United States and the European Union, both governing bodies honor the other’s standard as a suitable equivalent for their own organic label. They are mostly similar, but E.U. organic standards include slightly more strict regulations to meet the labeling requirement.
Even so, HiPP pushes the bar higher for organic foods with their own organic label. The HiPP organic label requires testing for hundreds of chemicals beyond those tested for E.U. certification — and at levels even more minute. With the HiPP organic seal, you know you’re getting a formula that’s free from additives, contaminants, pesticides, and one that maintains high standards for the ethical treatment of their animals.
As a trusted company that built a business on the tenets of sustainability, environmental consciousness, and exacting standards of purity, it’s no surprise that HiPP is a sought after brand in Europe.
Nutrients in HiPP Dutch Stage 3 Formula
HiPP Dutch formulas are made with skim milk from cows. Cow’s milk has been the nutritional backbone of baby formulas for decades thanks to its dependable supply and its consistent nutritional profile.
HiPP Dutch Stage 3 is made with probiotic strains naturally found in breast milk, which can support a healthy immune system and a healthy microbiome. Organic palm, rapeseed, and sunflower oils bolster the fat content of HiPP’s stage 3 formula.
HiPP formulas provide the full spectrum of necessary vitamins and minerals like vitamins A, C, D, and B12. Vitamin D is vital for calcium absorption and bone growth, while omega-3 & -6 fatty acids support development.
Although one study suggests that palm oil-based formula may impair a growing baby’s bone mineral density, palm oil is considered safe to use in baby formula. Additionally, palm oil is notorious for its negative environmental impact, but the organically produced palm oil in HiPP’s formulas means that you can be at ease knowing this formula places high value on sustainability and ethics.
HiPP formulas do not contain soy, added sugar, gluten, GMOs, or other preservatives.
HiPP’s formula uses hexane-extracted fish oil as the source of DHA omega-3 fatty acids. HiPP uses fish oil instead of DHA extract, so you can trust that you’re getting a hexane-free DHA source to support your baby’s brain development.
If your toddler isn’t ready to wean from formula at 1 year, or they simply need some added nutritional support to meet their milestones, HiPP Stage 3 formula is a safe choice to meet their nutritional needs.
Side Effects of HiPP Dutch Stage 3 Formula
Because cow’s milk-based products may be harder for some individuals to digest, side effects to look out for are well known. Excessive gas, fussiness, colic, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation are all red flags to talk to your pediatrician about finding a cow’s milk formula alternative.
You may need to explore other options like hypoallergenic formulas to support your baby best if a true allergy is at play. Talk to your pediatrician about whether a hypoallergenic product line is right for your family.
How HiPP Dutch Stage 3 Formula Compares
HiPP Dutch Stage 3 formula vs. Holle Dutch Stage 3
Both Holle and HiPP brands of formula are certified organic in the E.U. and both adhere to even higher standards for organic, ethically-sourced, and quality controlled baby food products.
HiPP tests for more than a thousand chemicals and maintains exceptional standards for animal welfare, in accordance with the HiPP organic certification. Holle is Demeter-certified biodynamic, which means that the production farms use holistic, regenerative agriculture practices that go beyond just organic. Holle uses a vegetarian DHA source, whereas HiPP uses fish oil.
HiPP Dutch Stage 3 formula vs. Kendamil Goat Milk Stage 3 Formula
With Kendamil Goat Milk Stage 3 and HiPP Dutch Stage 3 being organic formulas for toddlers 12+ months, there is a lot to like about both. Kendamil uses a goat’s milk base, which may be better for some babies, and includes prebiotic galactooligosaccharides fiber sourced from human milk. HiPP’s combiotic probiotic comes from breast milk but has no prebiotics. Another key difference is Kendamil’s fish oil- and palm oil-free formulation.
If your decision hinges on environmental sustainability and organic farming practices, HiPP adheres to E.U. standards for organic certification plus the brand’s own, in-house organic certification, but Kendamil’s stage 3 goat’s milk formula is not certified organic.
HiPP Dutch Stage 3 formula vs. Similac Organic Toddler Drink with A2 Milk
HiPP Dutch and Similac Organic Toddler Drink have some similarities: both are organic and both are for toddlers 1+ years old. Similac uses A2 cow’s milk to alleviate digestive problems seen with conventional, predominantly A1 protein formulas.
The standards of Similac’s USDA organic certification are high, but HiPP’s organic standards are higher. Similac does not contain probiotics but avoids palm oil; HiPP has both. HiPP gets its omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil; Similac’s is derived from a plant-based source.
Bottom Line
As a sustainably-sourced, beyond-organic formula option for babies 1 year and older, HiPP leaves little to be improved upon. Whether used to complement breastfeeding or as the natural follow-up to HiPP stage 2 formula-fed infants, HiPP is a great choice for the environmentally- and health-conscious family. Talk to your pediatrician before starting your baby on any new type of formula, and see if a stage 3 formula like HiPP’s Dutch Stage 3 formula may be right for your family.